After a couple of days of changeable weather we woke to the fantastic sight of Assynt in the snow. I couldnt have hoped for more. It was breathtaking, blue skies some threatenting clouds and the primeval peaks of Quinag, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor and Cul Beag and Suilven rearing up from a thick, white carpet.
We set off to get a picture which typified the landscape of Assynt, and headed round the coast past Lochinver and its amazing pie shop....mmm lamb pie, mmm apricot and peach pie, mmm £4.50 a pie. Seriously this part of the world aint cheap - saw a bag of nuts in a shop for £6.

Stopped at Loch Assynt and spent a while taking shots of Ardvreck Castle. We were here a few days before, but i didnt take any shots of the castle. Looked a bit dull, but with the snow, it was transformed!

Still looking for that Assynt shot, we drove on round past Inchnadamph. We decided to go up Stac Pollaidh to get a shot looking across Loch Sionasgaig to Suilven. I was supposed to be catching a bus back to Glasgow at 4pm so was a bit worried about time, and the fact i was wearing my jeans. The sun was still out and there was a fair number of folk heading up the hill, most with ice axes and crampons etc. It was pretty hard going, really deep snow and both my dad and Andy ended up slipping on their arses! my dad ended up to his waist in snow at one point.

Bumped into some guys with a huge camera, turns out they were from the One Show, and doing a thing about photography! Hopefully they didnt film us climbing up (the audiotrack would need quite a few bleeps).

The scenery was magnificent, everywhere i looked there was this stunning empty landscape. Then we reached the shoulder, and the view north opened up. Jawdropping. I was buzzing! Got the tripod out and took loads of shots of Suilven, waiting for the clouds to move into the best position. It was baltic up there and my hands were frozen. Worth it though.

We walked/slid/fell back down to the car park, had a wee dram to warm up and headed to Achnahaird Bay for the classic shot looking back to the mountains of Assynt. By this time we are all hank marvin and bombed down to Ullapool for fish suppers. So good!

My bus was due at 4 so we had a wander about in Ullapool, had a cup of coffee sitting outside, 5 minutes later it was snowing, 1 minute later it was roasting hot sun... mad weather!

The bus trip was ok, just spent the time with my faced pressed to the window looking at the scenery. Changed to the train at Inverness and cruised through the snow covered Cairngorms.

Back in Glasgow at 10pm, was crazy to think that just a few hours ago i was up Stac Pollaidh in amongst the most amazing scenery.